The Power of Easter is Sacrifice

How to use power to serve others, not ourselves, according to the Centre for Public Christianity

Key points:

• Easter reveals a different kind of power, where sacrifice is used for the good of others rather than self interest.
• Max Jeganathan says Jesus’ death and resurrection show the ultimate example of power expressed through love and humility.
• Christians are encouraged to reflect this model by serving others and using their influence to make a positive difference.

“Sacrifice at its best is, simply, power used for the good of other people.”

Stop. Consider how the astounding events of Easter reveal true power.

Max Jeganathan, a Senior Research Fellow at Centre for Public Christianity, told Hope Mornings that, frequently, power is misused or abused.

Sadly, we know this to be true globally, nationally, locally and individually.

Looking afresh at Jesus’ death and resurrection reveals a model of power for the common good of all our lives.

Spider-Man didn’t come up with great power, great responsibility

“Power often is talked about in negative terms,” Max said, providing the simple definition of power as “what you can do”.

“I think we all deep down know that humankind can make a mess of [power].”

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Even though so many of our issues flow from power poorly used, Max noted we continue to turn to people with power for solutions. In contrast, Max wants us to see Jesus as the “beautiful, audacious and game-changing example of how power can work”.

“Power at its most beautiful can be about sacrifice, not wielding influence for self-serving purposes.”

The death and resurrection of Jesus – and why they occurred – bond sacrifice with power in an almost superheroic way. Fans of the early 2000s Spider-Man franchise instantly recall the famous line: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Yet that summary of unselfish power was not invented by comic-book creators. Their inspiration was the “beautiful, audacious and game-changing example” of Jesus.

“Followers of Jesus, or anyone literate with the Bible, will know that is a direct lift from the words of Jesus: ‘To whom much is given, much will be expected,'” Max said, referencing Luke 12:48.

“At the heart of the Christian message is a God who steps into the world as a person [Jesus]… who pours out himself, for us.

“That’s what Easter is: The cross of Jesus Christ is quite clearly… the most beautiful use of power you could imagine.”

How to practice power

Incredibly, Jesus’ sacrifice requires the power of God to overcome how dreadfully we have misused power. So much sin and ungodly behaviour have its roots in the corrupted soil of power.

“That’s what Christians are talking about over the Easter weekend, about Jesus coming to die for our sin,” Max said.

“It’s really about reconciling us back to God and relationship with him.”

Although we can look to this clear-cut example of power used well, we still routinely fail to follow suit. We create systems, checks and balances, and other constraints on power. Nothing manages to train us as well as the leading example of Jesus.

Max noted one positive way to help us practice power, through seeing our interaction with others as teamwork and not solo ambition.

“A team-mate giving of themselves for something greater” is something we celebrate in the sporting arena.

“Our ability to pass is what sets us apart,” Max said about the greatness of a team player who “sacrifices” for a shared purpose.

Power used for their good

“We can always take something from the Easter message, set aside our own struggles, and look to those who are less fortunate than us,” Max said.

As we take to the playing field of our lives, Max suggested sending a message, cooking a meal or seeing what someone else needs. Seeking practical expressions of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus.

“Sacrifice at its best is, simply, power used for the good of other people,” Max said.

“We all can do that. We have all got some influence, resources and people in our lives. We can always pour out of ourselves for them.”

Listen to the full interview with Max Jeganathan in the player above.

Feature image: Canva Pro